Waste not, grow lots! Join Isaac Reid to hear about how compost is made, methods of composting at home, and how to use it, on Thursday, May 29, from 6 - 7 p.m. at the Coventry Library, 1672 Flat River Road, Coventry. Attendees can opt to purchase a composting bin at 80% off for only $9.00! Brought to you by the Library and the Wantaknohow Garden Club. Registration not required. For more info, email JCoppa@coventrylibrary. org or call 822-910.
HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP)
Having trouble paying your heating bill? The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps income eligible families pay their heating bills. The HEAP is a Primary Grant that is sent directly to your utility company or fuel provider, and it will be credited on your bill. You don’t need to have an unpaid bill, you can either rent or own your home, and must meet current gross income guidelines. Please call 732-4660, Ext. 175 for more information.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WEST WARWICK HEAVENLY HEART FOOD PANTRY
First Baptist Church of West Warwick, 1613 Main Street, has their Heavenly Heart Food Pantry open to all from 11AM-1PM on the 1st Saturday of every month.
TOPS MEETING
TOPS CHAPTER #38 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets Thursday mornings at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 99 Pierce Street in East Greenwich (lower level). Weigh-in begins at 9:30AM, the meeting is from 10-11AM. Enter from the side parking lot, go down stairs to the kitchen area. All are welcome, as well as donations of canned goods. For more information, call Angela Henderson at 401-225-6174.
AARP CHAPTER 2210 TRIP TO MAINE
AARP Chapter 2210 is sponsoring a trip to Maine, Tuesday, August 12th. Savor a delightful lobster bake luncheon at Bull N Claw in Wells, Maine. After lunch, enjoy free time for shopping in Kennebunkport, ME. Sit back and relax on a luxury motor coach operated by DATTCO Coach & Tour. Pick-up at 8:15 a.m. from Park & Ride, Hopkins Hill Rd. (Exit 19 off I-95), West Greenwich. Approximate return: 7:00 p.m. $124/person. Final payment due: Tuesday, July 22nd. Contact: Maureen Murphy 401-828-5188 or Anne Brien 401-263-4274.
HOMESCHOOL
CLUB AT GREEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
ALL ABOUT WHALES! Homeschooled children, ages 4 to 12, are invited to our monthly Homeschool Club on Tuesday, May 27 at 1pm at the Greene Public Library, 179 Hopkins Hollow Road, Greene, RI. Jane from ARRI will teach us all about whales! A fun and educational program. Siblings are welcome. Registration is required by calling 397-3873.
OPEN HOUSE RAFFLE FUNDRAISER
In Memory of Erika Tremblay Shea
An open house raffle fundraiser to benefit the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation will be held on Saturday, June 21, from 12 to 4 p.m., at the Old Theater Diner, 33 Sandy Bottom Road, Coventry. Enjoy a free buffet, beautiful raffle prizes and live music to support a great cause! Questions, information or to donate please contact: Donna Tremblay 401-525-1096 or Pat Johnston 401-556-1567
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT GEN. NATHANAEL GREENE HOMESTEAD
The Gen. Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry is looking for individuals interested in becoming Tour Guides for the season. The Homestead, also known as “Spell Hall”, was built by Nathanael Greene in 1770 and has been authentically restored as a Museum dedicated to his memory. Tour Guides will learn about Gen. Greene, his family, and life in the 18th Century. Experience is not necessary. All information will be provided, and scheduling is flexible. For more information, please email nathanaelgreenehmst@gmail.com Visit us at nathanaelgreenehomestead.org
Summer is Arriving
PAWTUXET VALLEY ROTARY CLUB
The Pawtuxet Valley Rotary Club is looking for individuals or businesses who are interested in helping the local communities of West Warwick, Coventry & West Greenwich! For more information please email pvrotaryevents@gmail.com or call 401-589-1321.
NARCONON
Drug overdoses have become the leading cause of accidental death in the Unites States with heroin & other opiates being the largest contributor. If your loved one is struggling with drug abuse of any kind, now is the time to get them the help they need. If you believe one of your loved ones is abusing drugs, learn how you can make a difference by visiting narcononnewliferetreat. org/drug-rehab
SALVATION PRAYER
THE BEAUTY & TRUTH OF CATHOLIC TEACHING ON END-OF-LIFE ISSUES
Three consecutive, Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Saints John and Paul Parish Center, 341 S Main St, Coventry: Tuesday, June 3: Catholic Teaching on End-of-Life Issues vs Euthanasia; Tuesday, June 10: The Catholic Perspective on End-of-Life Documents & Funeral Arrangements; Tuesday, June 17: A Catholic Understanding of Redemptive Suffering & Dying vs The Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act. Light refreshments will be provided as well as time for Q&A! Free will offering will be accepted to offset the cost of this program. We need baby diapers – all sizes! Please bring a package with you if you can.
Dear Heavenly Father I know that you love me even though I have broken your laws. I have heartfelt sorrow for my sins and I ask that you forgive my sins and direct my life. I believe Jesus shed his blood and died for my sins, was buried and was bodily raised to life on the third day. I ask Jesus to be my Savior and my Lord. I pray in the NAME of JESUS, Your Beloved Precious Eternal SON. Amen. AB
Ruth’s
WEST WARWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMUNITY NEEDS PANTRY
The West Warwick Public Library, 1043 Main Street, West Warwick has a free Community Needs Pantry set up near the front entrance. Please take what you need! If you would like to donate, leave what you can (non-perishables only please). The Pantry is in need of milk (all kinds), cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter & toilet paper. For more information, call 828-3750.
SWEATIN’ TO THE MUSIC EXERCISE CLASS AT THE WEST WARWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY
West Warwick Public Library, 1043 Main Street, West Warwick is offering free exercise classes on Tuesdays at 3PM & Thursdays at 10AM, hosted by Mind and Body Studios. You’ll move & groove to a playlist of greatest hits while laughing and having fun. This program is open to all fitness levels and all ages. Registration required by visiting wwpl.org/calendar or call 828-3750, Ext. 0 or Ext. 1. Space limited to 35 participants.
SUPPORT OUR VETERANS
The banquet hall at VFW Coventry Memorial Post #9404, is available to rent for all occasions: birthdays, weddings, meetings, memorials, etc. Hall rentals help support local Veterans, Post Operations and Veteran Programs. The hall can accommodate up to 125 people. Call: 401-828-9705 for information or visit our hall rental link on our website at www.vfw9404.org.
COVENTRY CARES COMMUNITY CARE CLINIC NURSE HOURS
The Coventry Cares Community Care Clinic Nurses Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 8:30AM-12:30PM with Nurse Jane or Nurse Carolyn. The Clinic is set up at the Coventry Resource & Senior Center, 50 Wood Street, Coventry.
PASSPORT APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED AT THE WEST WARWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY
The West Warwick Public Library, 1043 Main Street, West Warwick is accepting Passport Applications (DS-11 Forms only) on behalf of the US Dept. of State. Please contact Information Services at 828-3750, Ext. 1 or email ref@wwpl. org to schedule an appointment or for more information. For more information, you can call 1-577-487-2778 or visit travel.state.gov
COVENTRY SENIOR CENTER WEDNESDAY BINGO
The Coventry Resource & Senior Center, 50 Wood Street, Coventry, will once again hold Bingo on Wednesdays from 1:30-4PM. The cost is $6 for 8 games. Please note that prizes have gone up as well as adding an additional Special & Quickie. You must be 18 years or older to play.
FREE NOTARY SERVICE AT COVENTRY LIBRARY
Free notary services are available at the Coventry Public Library. Proper governmental identification with a signature is required and all documents must be signed in the presence of the notary. Please call ahead to be sure the notary is available at 401-822-6200.
RI COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
If you are in need of food, you can call the RI Community Food Bank at 942-6325 or you can visit www.rifoodbank.org for a complete list of open pantries statewide.
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN TO KNIT?
If you knit or you would like to learn, join the Knitting Group at the Coventry Senior Center, 50 Wood Street, Coventry. The group meets on Wednesday mornings at 9:30AM. This is a great way to socialize and make new friends.
HOPE LIBRARY HOURS
Hope Library, 374 North Road, Hope, is open on Mondays & Fridays from 10AM-5PM, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays from 10AM-8PM & Saturdays from 10AM-2PM. The Library is closed on Sundays. For more information, call 821-7910.
FREE WOOD PALLETS
ON-GOING SUPPLY – You pick up. Side of building at 64 Hope Avenue, Hope.
WANTED: JUNK
LAWNMOWERS & air conditioners. Take for free. 401-829-0377.
2023 MALLARD
CAMPER TRAILER
(28 ft.) for sale. LIKE NEW: Full inside kitchen, bathroom, 2 bedrooms, fireplace. Outdoor minikitchen. $40,000. Call Maria: 401-743-0663.
HIGHLAND CEMETERY, JOHNSTON Graceland, Lot 15. $1000 OBO. Call/text: 401-714-5332.
USE OUR FAX SERVICE to send or receive documents... it’s fast, easy, and affordable. Great for sending Insurance Forms, Mortgage Documents, Unemployment Forms, Time Sheets and any paperwork that needs to be received fast. Cost to send: S3 for 1st page, $l each additional page (+tax). Cost to receive: $.75/page (+ tax). The Reminder, 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick. Phone 8212216, Fax 732-3110.
CFA REGISTERED, seal point, vetted males. $1100 each. Serious buyers only. Call: 401-222-0905.
LEAVES AND SPRING CLEAN-UP. Free estimates. Senior Discount. $75.00/ average. Call Sal: 401-8559028 or 401-256-2853.
“RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS...”
We could all use a little good news to brighten our day... Have you witnessed a “Random Act of Kindness” lately? “The Reminder” would love to hear about it. Please submit your entry in writing and we will print them anonymously on a space available basis. Please mail your “Random Acts of Kindness” (with contact information) to The Reminder, 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick RI 02889 or email your submission to mail@rireminder.com
COINS! LOCAL COIN COLLECTOR looking to buy some coins or call me, and I can give you an idea of what your coins are worth. 60-Year Coventry resident. My house, your house or Library. A Collector, not a Dealer. Call Mark, 401-556-4703.
CLEANUPS: Attics, cellars, garages, buildings, yards, leaves. Some cleanouts for content. Anything hauled away. Very reasonable. Reliable service! Free estimates. Call for your small moving needs. Lic. #37379/Insured. 30 Years of reliable service. 397-2781 or 741-2781.
Read us online! rireminder.com
NEED QUICK CASH?
Sell your no-longer-used items with a REMINDER READER AD. Now it’s easier than ever. Call 8212216 for information. All Credit Cards accepted.
CLEANING: THOROUGH & RELIABLE 18+ Years of experience. Satisfaction guaranteed. Call 2483839. **I am fully vaccinated**
FIREWOOD FOR SALE: JW Studley & Sons. Cut & split seasoned wood. $250/ cord. Est. 1982. Not a fly by night! 641-0212.
WANTED: Antiques and collectibles. Moving or just cleaning out? We pay more for your old jewelry, glassware, furniture, pottery, clocks, paintings, military items, crocks, post cards, cameras, photos, old coins, etc. For prompt and courteous service call Bill, 821-0381.
TWO-FAMILY YARD
SALE: 96 Border Street, West Warwick, Saturday, May 24. 7am-2pm.
SPRING YARD SALE! 1 Blueberry Heights, West Greenwich: Friday/ Saturday/Sunday May 23, 24 & 25, 9AM-3PM. Outside furniture, lawn decor, garden fencing/ wood and metal, plants and planters, tools, electronics and miscellaneous.
MOVING SALE: Saturday, May 24, 9am-2pm. 489 Maple Valley Rd., Coventry. ARIENS Riding Mower w/ grass-catcher/trailer. ZEO bike for men. Routers, sanders, ratchet sets and assorted hand tools.
PLEASE NOTE: THE CLASSIFIED DEADLINE FOR THE MAY 28 ISSUE OF THE REMINDER IS THURSDAY, MAY 22 AT 12 NOON
Classified Ad Deadline is THURSDAY AT 3PM
Kitchen A Guide to First-Time
Remodeling
Kitchen upgrades are among the most common renovation projects homeowners tackle. Even so, it’s a big project for a first-time renovation, and the final results are sure to be stronger with some detailed planning from the start.
Take into account these five tips from the experts at Wellborn Cabinet to help first-time kitchen remodelers achieve the kitchens of their dreams:
1. Plan Your Budget
Establish a clear and realistic budget. Factor in costs for materials, labor and some extra for unexpected expenses. Sticking to your budget can help ensure you enjoy the outcome of the project while avoiding financial stress. Your contractor can help you strike a balance between
your vision and financial resources. You may also find it helpful to consult with a real estate professional who can ensure your plans are in line with the overall value of your home and neighborhood.
2. Prioritize Functionality
Design with practicality in mind. Ensure there’s enough counter space and storage to create an efficient workflow. Consider the kitchen work triangle; that is, be conscious of the travel pattern among the sink, stove and refrigerator. Additionally, look for opportunities to incorporate functional storage in unexpected places. One example is the exposed end of a cabinet run or side of the refrigerator, where there is often wasted space. One example is a shallow cleaning utility cabinet from Wellborn Cabinet that fits a broom, dustpan and everyday cleaning supplies neatly, giving you practical access to frequently used supplies. A variation on this cabinet offers a spice rack designed for easy access to cooking essentials. Other options in the line include an over-fridge cabinet with a combination of shelves, sheet pan or cutting board storage and a trash cancutting board combination.
3. Choose Quality Materials
Consider factors such as durability, maintenance requirements and compatibility with your design aesthetic when selecting materials for your kitchen. You may be tempted to cut corners and stretch your money further, but quality materials are a critical element of successful renovations. Prioritize high-quality materials that stand the test of time. Durable countertops, solid cabinetry and reliable appliances typically save money in the long run, and they’ll enhance the overall look and value of your kitchen.
4. Hire Professionals
Work with experienced contractors and designers. Their expertise can help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure your remodel meets all safety and building codes. What’s more, these professionals have likely encountered and overcome all kinds of challenges, which means they’ll be well-prepared to help you navigate unexpected obstacles and provide a wealth of knowledge from previous clients to help make recommendations for the perfect finished space.
5. Stay Flexible
Be prepared for unexpected challenges and delays. Stay adaptable and open to changes and remember patience is key to achieving the kitchen of your dreams. Materials go on backorder and paperwork gets misplaced all the time. Set a realistic timeline for your project that allows for some hiccups and try to avoid becoming too rigidly attached to any single element of the design, so if you have to make a modification, it doesn’t feel like a monumental sacrifice.
Look for more ideas and inspiration for your kitchen remodel at Wellborn.com.
Adding an island to your kitchen offers many functional and aesthetic benefits, and there are styles to suit every type of kitchen.
Galley Kitchen Island: This type of island is more functional than design-forward, conveniently adding extra storage and counter space. This conventional configuration works well in most kitchen layouts, both large and small, and can be constructed to fit almost any kitchen.
Table-Style Kitchen Island: If you want a unique addition, an island table is the way to go, whether you opt for a custommade piece or upcycle an antique. The beauty of a table-style island is that it serves a functional and decorative purpose, warming up a modern kitchen and adding personality.
Double Kitchen Island: Incorporating multiple islands – often called a double island kitchen – can improve traffic flow, increase storage space and seating, and create additional space for meal prep, cooking, washing and eating. Plus, islands are ideal for implementing design elements such as complementing materials and finishes, pops of color and unique cabinetry components including door styles and hardware.
Two-Tier
Chef’s
Round Kitchen Island: Compared to a typical rectangular island, a rounded option is an eye-catching way to add more seating in your kitchen for entertaining family and friends.
L-Shaped Kitchen Island: If you have a lot of space in your kitchen, an L-shaped island can fill the area. The design provides extra cooking space, allowing you to accommodate multiple chefs in the kitchen. You can also add seating for family and friends.
U-Shaped
Rolling Kitchen Island: This convenient solution adds flexibility with extra storage and counter space. You can easily tuck it away to open up more floor space when done, and this portable island can easily roam around the kitchen so you can place it where you need it.
SELBY TREE SERVICE: Tree removal, tree trimming, yard clean up. Expert Climber. Free estimates. Contact 401286-1407.
DUMP RUNS: Furniture, appliances, construction debris, sheds, junk. 1-860304-6740.
LEAVES AND SPRING CLEAN-UP. Free estimates. Senior Discount. $75.00/ average. Call Sal: 401-8559028 or 401-256-2853.
ELECTRICIAN: No job too small. Free estimates. RI #A4602. Insured. Jay, 826-2826.
RICHARD J. PIZZI Electrical Contractor: 550 Providence Street, West Warwick. Residential Wiring (home repairs). No job too small. A145, insured. 580-8803.
FACSIMILE SERVICE
THE REMINDER’S FAX SERVICE. Now you can send or receive letters, statements, invoices, etc. in seconds by using The Reminder Fax Service. Want more details? Call The Reminder and ask about our fax: 821-2216. Fax Number: 732-3110. To Send: $3.00 (+tax) for the first page, $1.00 for every additional page. To receive: 75¢ ea. page (+tax).
FENCE INSTALLATION & REPAIR
VENTURA FENCE CO., INC.: Serving Rhode Island since 1975 for all your fencing needs. Insured. RI Reg #7260. Call anytime 821-7200.
K.C. FENCE CO.: There’s no job too big or too small... We do them all! Specializing in all types of fencing. In business for over 40 years. RI Reg. #15748. Insured. 397-5076.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
MOFFITT & ASSOCIATES, LLC.: Financial Services and Investments, Retirement Planning and 401K rollovers. www.moffittassociates.com 1260 Main St. (Rte. 117), Coventry (401) 828-0097.
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
LEWIS & CLARKE ENTERPRISES, INC.: New homes, additions, garages, kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, roofs, and repairs. 345-3227. RI Reg. #5646.
PEST CONTROL
WINFIELD TERMITE & PEST CONTROL: All your pest needs. 821-7800.
KENT COUNTY PEST CONTROL, LLC: Residential and Commercial. Certified in Industrial, Structural and Health Related Pest Control. 100% Guaranteed. 401-569-0212.
PLUMBING & HEATING
JOHN P. KEOGH PLUMBING & DRAIN CLEANING: Electric sewer rooter service. Master Plumber Lic. #1881. 401-862-8810.
POWER WASHING
THOR’S PRESSURE & SOFT WASH:
How to prepare your outdoor space for Memorial Day activities
Memorial Day weekend is a popular time to entertain. For many, the weekend marks the first outdoor entertaining opportunity of the year, which is certainly something to look forward to. As outdoor entertaining season begins, homeowners can take these steps to prepare their outdoor living spaces for the first big backyard get-together of the year.
• Break out the power washer. Pressure washing is an important component of spring home cleanup. The warmer temperatures of spring allow water from power washing to dry more quickly, which can decrease the chances that mold and mildew will grow on surfaces like siding. A freshly power washed home also makes for a welcoming entertaining space.
A power washer also can be used on outdoor entertaining spaces to remove dirt and debris that built up over the winter. Just make sure to read manufacturer instructions before using a power washer to clean paving stones, decks and outdoor furniture.
• Inspect outdoor furniture. Now is a good time to inspect outdoor furniture if the task was not performed in late fall or early winter before items were moved into the garage or placed in storage. Check to make sure furnishings are still safe to use, addressing any issues before guests come over for a Memorial Day weekend gathering. Wash cushions for outdoor furniture and replace any that might be showing their age.
• Clean the grill . A thorough cleaning of the grill also is in order prior to summer entertaining season. Many homeowners do little or no grilling
during winter, so now is the time to give grilling surfaces and the interior of the grill a deep cleaning. Check for leaks if using a gas grill, and scrub the interior of any grease that accumulated last season. Many grilling experts advise lighting a grill and letting it burn for roughly 20 minutes prior to putting any foods on the grates for the first time. Such a strategy allows residual fluids like soap, vinegar and de-greasing products used when cleaning the grill to burn off before food is placed on the grates.
• Inspect the landscaping, too. It’s not just seating areas like patios and decks that need some investigation prior to outdoor entertaining season. Take a walk around the landscape and make sure there’s no potentially dangerous spots where people could be injured when playing backyard games. Fill in any holes with soil and fresh grass seed, and inspect trees to see if any branches need to be pruned.
Summer entertaining season begins each Memorial Day weekend. Homeowners can take various steps to ensure their outdoor entertaining spaces are comfortable and safe.
Power washing a deck prior to outdoor entertaining season can make it a more welcoming space for guests.
COVENTRY RESOURCE & SENIOR CENTER OFFERS FREE NOTARY SERVICE
The Coventry Resource & Senior Center, 50 Wood Street, Coventry, offers free Notary Services to Coventry residents. Please call 822-9175 to ensure a Notary is available for you.
Carol Miller, your local Reverse Mortgage Specialist.
406-1247 (Cell) carol.miller@longbridge-financial.com WEST WARWICK PUBLIC SCHOOLS MENTORS NEEDED
West Warwick Public Schools is in need of in-person volunteer mentors for students in Grades K-12. The time commitment is 1 hour per week. Anybody who is interested in volunteering can call or email me, Dana Papitto, Mentor Coordinator, at: (401) 825-6530 or dpapitto@ww-ps.com
WEST WARWICK FOOD CUPBOARD
The West Warwick Assistance Agency operates a food cupboard at 1293 Main Street serving all West Warwick residents living at or below three times the federal poverty level. We are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10AM-2PM, unless there is a town-wide parking ban in effect. We offer standard amounts of core groceries based on household size as well as self-serve selections of produce, bread and assorted other noncore grocery items we have on hand. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 828-0310, and no appointment is necessary to visit our facility.
Tues. 5/27: Kale & bean soup, BBQ chicken, roasted potatoes, green beans, roll, dessert. Option: Turkey sandwich
PROJECT HAND
UP
Project Hand Up is a supplemental program provided for working people and elderly in the community to be able to affordably shop for groceries for a suggested donation. They are located at 15 Factory Street in West Warwick. Suggested donation is $6 for 3 bags of groceries. HOURS: If you are 60 & older or a Veteran (Veteran Card required), you can shop on any day regardless of your last name. Tuesdays 3-5PM for anyone with the last name that begins with A-K, Thursdays 3-5PM for last names beginning with L-Z & Fridays 3-4:30PM for anyone who missed their shopping day. Picture ID’s required, one purchase per family, trunks must be cleaned out to allow for groceries. Please visit projecthandup.net or find them on Facebook for more information.
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PrimeTime
At 102 Domenic keeps ticking
WWII veteran who worked on B24s knows you can’t overwind a clock
Domenic Giarrusso pointed to the kitchen table with its four chairs in an invitation to have a seat. A glass display case on one wall held a collection of cut crystal and porcelain figurines. Windows looked out on one side to a yard. The other side opened to a pin-neat, carpeted living room. A counter separated the area from the stove, refrigerator and cabinets filled with canned goods.
“A lot of expired labels…like me” Domenic said with a laugh and sweep of his hand.
“Coffee, tea?”
Domenic pulled out a coffee
by JOHN HOWELL
tin and filled the kettle with enough water to percolate a couple of cups. He didn’t want any assistance. In fact, he insisted his guests be seated. And, oh yes, there were a lot of wall clocks. Many hung in the entryway from the garage or were evenly positioned on a nearby bench. They all looked old and most were silent, which is a good thing for they all would have chimed on the hour.
Domenic expected the visit. He would get another clock –this one to repair - and he was prepared to tell his story as a WWII Air Force veteran.
What ensued was an extended visit during which Domenic talked about growing up in Providence, his job repairing B-24 bombers that had been shot up - he showed a photo of one with a wing tip nothing but wires and metal scraps - as they returned to bases in North Africa and Italy; marrying a first grade classmate; and eventually settling in Cranston. Along the way, when the Navy pulled out of Quonset in the 1970s, he was jobless for four months and learned how to repair clocks as a hobby that ultimately became a source of added revenue.
Today he’s ticking – very strongly we would add – at the age of 102. He lives independently, drives to keep appointments with the VA and, on occasion, repairs clocks, too.
A middle child
It all started on Jan. 30, 1923 when Domenic was born at 409 Union Ave. in Providence. He was the “middle child,” he puts it, of six sisters and one brother. His father was a shipping clerk at International Braiding and as Domenic recalls insisted that
● DOMENIC to page 18
Even at 102, Domenic Giarrusso serves up a contagious smile along with his hospitality. (Beacon Media photos by John Howell)
Domenic Giarrusso during WWII. Submitted photo
PACE unveils Reminiscence Therapy Room
PACE Organization of Rhode Island (PACE-RI), the health care provider and insurer for medically complex older adults, recently opened a state-of-the-art reminiscence therapy room at its metro-area center to support people experiencing dementia.
Reminiscence therapy is an intervention that helps elders, especially those with mild to moderate dementia, recall and share past experiences. The immersive experience of the room and corresponding activities encourage emotional well-being and social connection.
Reminiscence therapy is now available to PACE participants, including 33 Warwick elders and 14 Cranston elders who are provided transportation to attend the day center and clinic. It is part of the all-inclusive health care and social services offered by the organization to help nursing home-eligible older adults continue to live safely and independently at home instead.
The room has two distinct sections – one is modeled after a 1960s living room, complete with mid-century modern clocks, retro wall-
First, I would like to apologize to my faithful readers (all six of you) for missing last month’s column. It’s the first time that I have missed a monthly column in more than seven years. Rest assured that I had a good reason. In late February, I joined the unfortunate clan of 36 million seniors when I slipped and fell on wet stairs, fracturing two bones in my shoulder. I also became one of 300,000 seniors who need medical treatment in an emergency room or urgent care facility. Treatment for the injury began with a sling to facilitate healing. After that, I used a walker, then a cane to get to my goal of walking normally again.
The accident triggered a series of adjustments that I had to make during my recovery. Our first adjustment was to move our second-floor bedroom to the first floor of the house. Even with this adjustment, you may find that you need help to get in and out of bed. You will probably need help showering. The most important idea, especially for elders, is to have grab bars installed and to
paper, and a clear vinyl covered couch among other amenities. The other area replicates a game room and den from the 1960s with simulated wood paneling. While the room has a vintage feel, it is also home to advanced technology based on the principles of reminiscence therapy.
Some of the innovative technologies featured include:
• The OM Interactive Mobii Multi Touch Table, an interactive tabletop projector that features games, music, social activities, and memory tools. It also encourages physical activity: a typical 30-minute session includes 550 movements.
• A bubble wall that encourages visual tracking, boosts auditory awareness, and reduces agitation in people with advanced dementia.
• iN2L, a standing touchscreen system used in over 2,000 elder care communities nationwide. It offers enriching content that supports cognitive health.
participants Marie W
• A soothing fish tank that encourages relaxation and reduces anxiety.
• Aromatherapy diffusers that engage the sense of smell to trigger positive emotions and uplift moods.
• Joy for All™ companion pets, lifelike robotic cats, dogs, and birds that simulate the comfort of real animals and reduce loneliness.
Little things we take for granted
place non-stick strips on the shower floor. Another precaution would be to replace that old tub with low threshold unit and a permanent shower chair. For a short time, you may need help using the bathroom. Grab bars here would also be a useful safety feature. I was very lucky. For the first phase of my recovery, my wife helped me dress every morning. After breakfast (cereal works best), you might leave the house for work, errands, shopping, appointments, or just some fun and relaxation. Herein lies a daunting challenge. If you have lost your ability to drive, as I did during my recovery, it’s a severe blow to independence. This hurdle can lead to isolation and loss of social contact, both necessary to maintain vital and physical well-being. Even getting in and out of the car can also be difficult. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and get some training from licensed professionals like
physical or occupational therapists. In most cases, therapy will be prescribed as part of your recovery.
Most communities have transportation programs to encourage persons in getting to senior centers, go shopping, keep doctor’s appointments, eat a nutritious meal at community site ‘’’restaurants,”, or other activities. Senior centers are excellent sites to sign up for trips, exercise, clubs, and or enroll in educational programs. You can find your local senior center by calling the town or city hall, the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging at 462-3000, or The Point information, referral, and resource center at 462-4444.
Although I previously never thought about climbing a flight of stairs, I found it necessary to find the elevator or ramp at various stores and restaurants during my recovery.
The National Institute on Aging offers additional tips on fall prevention such as:
Lucille
• Moxie, a small Al robot used as a companion and for conversation for adults with mild to moderate dementia.
The purchase of technology and the room’s design and renovation were funded through generous grants from the Simon W. Wardwell Foundation and the Harriet Ballou Charitable Foundation.
• Removing throw rugs
• Stay as active as you can manage
• Removing power cords or other objects that may be in your walking paths
• Enhance the lighting in your home
• Keep all your medical appointments and periodically review your medications with your health care providers
• Wear practical shoes in and out of the house
• Consider enrolling in an emergency response system (particularly if you live alone).
For more information on fall prevention, go to the National Council on Aging website at ncoa.com or the National Institute on Aging (nia.nih.gov.).
Don’t take everyday tasks for granted and take your time performing them. Don’t become a fall statistic.
Larry Grimaldi is a freelance writer from North Providence. For more information, or comments, e-mail lvgrimaldi49@gmail.com or visit fruithillpublishing.my.canva.site/
MY SIDE OF THINGS by LARRY GRIMALDI
PACE
and
G demonstrate the OM Interactive Mobii Multi Touch Table. Submitted photo by PACE
Don’t sit with worry, reach out Sudoku
“See something, say something.”
It’s been a common refrain in airports and transportation hubs for many years. It calls upon all of us to participate in the protection of our neighbors and community by calling attention to suspicious packages or behaviors.
How often, though, have you seen something concerning about your older adult neighbor, friend, or loved one and thought to yourself, “something isn’t right, but I don’t know what to do”?
If you are concerned about the safety of someone age 60 or older in Rhode Island, the Office of Healthy Aging (OHA) is who you can contact. Previous columns have introduced the ways OHA creates opportunities for connectivity, independence in aging, and supports community engagement and supports. A critical piece of OHA’s work is to prevent and alleviate elder abuse. Concerns can be reported to 401-462-0555 or https://oha.ri.gov/report-elder-abuse.
June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This month’s column seeks to bring awareness, not just to the signs of abuse, but also to the supports available. Nationally, it is estimated as many as one in ten older adults is abused or neglected each year, but most cases are not reported. Elder abuse can be defined as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person”.
Abuse may occur regardless of age, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or relationship status. Some older adults may be at increased risk of abuse. They may be frail. They may have caregivers who did not want to be
by MARIA CIMINI
caregivers. They may have resources or money acquired throughout their lives making them a target for exploitation. Abuse may be physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual; it may be neglect or financial exploitation. Self-neglect also falls under the purview of Adult Protective Services (APS) at OHA.
In 2024, our APS team received over 7,000 referrals. Seven thousand times a neighbor, family member, physician or friend called or completed a web form to express concern about an older adult in Rhode Island.
What might you call about? Here are some signs that my prompt your concern:
• Person lacks basic hygiene, adequate food or clean, appropriate clothing
• Person lives in a home that is cluttered, filthy, or in disrepair
• Person exhibits unexplained or uncharacteristic changes in behavior
• Person has unexplained fractures, bruises, welts, cuts, sores or burns
• Person has unexplained sexually transmitted disease(s)
• Person with dementia is left unsupervised
• Person is confined to bed without care and/or has untreated “bed” sores
• Person’s money is controlled by caregiver, but caregiver is failing to provide for the individual’s needs
• Person is isolated by a caregiver
• Caregiver is verbally aggressive or demeaning to the person
If you recognize any of the above for a person age 60 or older living in the community in RI, call 401-462-0555 or visit https://oha.ri.gov/report-elder-abuse.
Your report is always 100 percent confidential, and the process is 100 percent confidential.
They were concerned. Not all calls were for abuse. Some were about neglect. Some were self-neglect. Some were circumstances where people needed supports, they didn’t know how to access and ended up in distress or decline. Sometimes law enforcement was engaged and sometimes case managers were engaged. Every time, we were happy someone reached out. We need to be watching out for one another and no one should be suffering at the hands of a caregiver.
Don’t sit with the worry about a friend or a loved one.
The staff at the office of healthy aging are trained to assess to protect and to connect to resources. OHA investigators and community-based case managers will go out, knock on the door, and offer support to someone in need. There is no shame is reaching out for help and Rhode Islanders should have the peace of mind that help is available.
Maria Cimini is the director of the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging.
Random musings
Some of you may remember the sketch Deep Thoughts with Jack Handey on Saturday Night Live. That spoof inspired my column for this month: Random Musings. I’ve reached the age when I lie awake at night musing about all sorts of random topics. I’ve collected some of them for this essay, randomly, of course.
The other evening I was struggling to decide if it’s a kerfuffle or a kerfluffle. My bedtime brain doesn’t have spellcheck, so I didn’t know that Word would underline kerfluffle in red. I can see that now, but I’ve already moved on to other musings.
I’m aware that the animal known as the ship of the desert is the camel, but isn’t that usually depicted with one hump? That would make it a dromedary. The ship needs two humps to be called a camel. This of course means that the cigarette brand of that name actually has a dromedary on the package. You probably knew this already. Moving right along… is the Hokey Pokey really “what it’s all about”? And if so, why? And can’t words really hurt as much as sticks and stones?
Who decided there would only be two choices in winter hand coverings—mittens and five-finger gloves? Why isn’t there an option with three channels—thumb, index and middle finger together, and the two smallest fingers together? Or thumb, index finger, and the last three fingers together? Why do we assume that the first one to smell it did it?
I wonder if the estates of the four female leads in The Golden Girls get residuals for all those reruns on the Hallmark channel. I’ve watched some of them multiple times. The show is on just about every day, even more often
by ELAINE DECKER
than Murder She Wrote, and that series has just one female lead who would be entitled to residuals.
I’m only half way through this and you should already be able to see how truly random my musings are. And this is even without a glass of wine. Eggs are sold by the dozen. Golf balls are sold that way, too. Muffin tins have twelve compartments. So why do we rate things on a scale of one to ten? What’s worse, sometimes one is the best rating and sometimes ten is. Bo Derek was a 10 in the movie of that name. Best In Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Competition is always the number 1 dog. It’s all so confusing.
“We hear a lot about AI now. It usually means Artificial Intelligence. With all my aches and pains, it’s more likely to mean the generics Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen for me.”
We hear a lot about AI now. It usually means Artificial Intelligence. With all my aches and pains, it’s more likely to mean the generics Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen for me. And my chronic cough means CVS texts me automatic refill notices for my Albuterol Inhaler. Artificial Intelligence will have to wait a long time before that’s what I think of first when I hear AI.
I lost all my hair after my chemo treatments last spring. It grew back in white and straight and after a few weeks, I looked like Yahya Sinwar, the late Hamas leader who was in the news at that time. As my hair grew in more, I thought I looked like a human cotton
swab. Now my hair has grown a lot and it’s curly. (It used to be straight.) My current look is very Harpo Marx. I’ll get it trimmed back to cotton swab length soon.
My husband and I never had children, but we each have siblings, so we live vicariously through our nieces and nephews. People talk about grandparents and great grandparents all the time, but we seldom hear about grandaunts or great grandaunts. Grandaunt will show up if you search the term, but almost no one uses it. I found this explanation helpful. “Grand” indicates one generation away; “great” is added to indicate generations beyond “grand.” Most of my nieces and nephews keep things simple and just call me “Aunt E.”
I don’t understand the reasoning behind the kerfuffle over football’s “Tush Push.” I have to do a tush push every time I put on a pair of French cut underpants. And a major push trying to get in and out of leotards. They should call that activity the “thigh pry.”
I’m pretty much randomed out. I hope you’ve enjoyed musing along with me.
Copyright 2025 Business Theatre Unlimited
Elaine M. Decker’s books include Retirement Downsizing—A Humorous Guide, Retirement Sparks, Retirement Sparks Again, Retirement Sparks Redux and CANCER: A Coping Guide. Her essays appear in the anthologies: 80 Things To Do When You Turn 80 and 70 Things To Do When You Turn 70. All are available on Amazon.com. Contact her at: emdecker@ix.netcom.com
The sadly mourned Katharine Gibbs schools, a pair of mysteries and a funny novel about the moon are this month’s audiobooks.
“Expect Great Things!”
By Vanda Krefft, read by Eliza Foss. Algonquin Books, 10¾ hours, $27.99. When I arrived at the Providence Journal in 1978, among its standout characters were several smart assistants whose energy and purposeful strides across the newsroom marked them as “Katie Gibbs girls.”
That is, they were graduates of the Katharine Gibbs School, which I thought of then as a Providence secretarial school. But as Krefft writes in this marvelous look at both the school and an era, it was far more than that. It did start in Providence, in a tiny office on Westminster Street, a block from what was then the city’s Chinatown, but became a national chain of 11 schools before it closed in 2011.
And it did more than train secretaries. It trained women to make a difference in the world and taught them self-reliance, at a time when they had few legal rights and were expected to have no ambitions other than being homemakers.
Krefft starts her story in 1909 at Cranston’s Edgewood Yacht Club, where Gibbs’ husband fell from the mast of his yawl — a fall that would kill him and leave her nearly destitute, with two young children to raise. This echoed events earlier in her life when, as the daughter of a wealthy meat-packer in Galena, Illinois, she was suddenly impoverished when her father died without a will and her brothers inherited everything. Together, these taught her the importance of women’s being self-reliant, a lesson she would pass on to all the Gibbs Girls.
Gibbs tried starting a dressmaking business, but it failed. Then her sister, Mary, took a secretarial course at a Providence business school, and did so well she ended up as an instructor. Inspired, Katharine bought the school, though it was just two rooms with one student. And soon enough, she was expanding to branches in the toniest parts of Boston and Manhattan — later, Chicago and Montclair, New Jersey — and moving the Providence school to Angell Street on the East Side.
But that’s an institutional story. Krefft mostly follows the Gibbs Girls whose lives it changed, many of whom started life in dif-
ficult circumstances like Gibbs’ own. An unsung biographer of Woodrow Wilson, her credit taken by her male employer.
by ALAN ROSENBERG
The first head of the Marine Corps’ women’s division. A pathbreaking Connecticut state representative. A bank president, a co-founder of United Cerebral Palsy, and several bestselling authors. An ambassador to Malta. A president of Colorado Women’s College. And many others, including “M*A*S*H” star Loretta Swit, picking up skills that would support her on her way to a career in acting. Eventually, it all came crashing down. With society changing rapidly in the early 1970s and women’s rights advancing, secretarial schools seemed passe. Gibbs’ son, Gordon, who had inherited the school, found that his daughters didn’t want to run it after him, and sold it to the first of a string of corporate owners who, Krefft writes, expanded to squeeze as much money as possible from it, then walked away. A sad ending to a school that began in Rhode Island and went on to change the world.
Foss narrates with a warmth that helps the listener navigate the stories of the numerous Gibbs Girls whom Krefft profiles.
“The Commuter”
By James Patterson and Aaron Tracy, read by a full cast including Lizzy Caplan, Richard Schiff, Thomas Lennon, James Urbaniak, Sarah Steele, Terrence Terrell, Nicolas Dromard and Wolf Williams. Audible Original, 2½ hours, $11.20; free with Audible Plus membership, $7.95 a month.
This fast-paced, expertly acted audiobook takes full advantage of audio’s advantage over print: that in hearing what’s going on, you can much more easily picture the action in your mind’s eye.
It’s the story of Amy Nichols, a disgraced ex-FBI agent who overhears a murder plot on the train that takes her each day to and from her corporate security job. She’s never been the kind to avoid meddling in anything, and she can’t help herself — she’s soon knee-deep in contradictions and red herrings that make it look like she’s the one
who’ll be going to jail.
Patterson books are seldom big on characterization, but this one was actually written by Tracy, and he fills out the plot with deft touches like Amy’s affair with her boss and her visually impaired mother’s insight.
But beyond the writing, this book shines because of terrific sound effects that put you on board the train and in lots of other locales, and the strong acting of everyone in the cast. Two-time Emmy nominee Caplan (“Freaks and Geeks,” “Mean Girls”) is especially good as spunky but confused Amy, while Emmy winner Schiff (“The West Wing,” “The Good Doctor”) makes a believable alcoholic as Amy’s ex-partner.
“Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man”
By Jesse Q. Sutanto, read by Eunice Wong. Penguin Audio, 10½ hours, $22.
In last year’s delightful “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers,” Vera found a man lying dead on the floor of the teahouse she runs in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and proceeded to solve the crime — as well as to gather around her a group of suspects who became like family and removed the loneliness that had descended as she turned 60.
That USA Today bestseller was also an Edgar Award winner for best original paperback mystery, and an Audie Winner for its narration. Now Vera is back, this time trying to help a young woman who’s concerned about a missing friend that soon turns out to be another death and assembling another group of suspects: the dead man’s social-media-influencer girlfriend, his down-on-hisluck agent, and the grandfather who runs a dumpling house just down the street from Vera’s place.
Vera loves bossing everyone around, from her suspects to her son, Tilly, and his police-officer girlfriend, Selena. She’s still laugh-out-loud funny, as well as smart, insightful and resilient. You’d want her for your mother or grandmother — if you didn’t
mind having her run your life. And you wouldn’t mind.
Eunice Wong, who won that Audie Award, is back with another bravura performance, painting Vera as the epitome of Chinese grandmotherhood without mocking her, and drawing each supporting character as a living, breathing person with a voice all their own.
“When the Moon Hits Your Eye” By John Scalzi, read by Wil Wheaton. Audible, 10 hours, $29.66 (one credit with Audible membership).
It’s an old myth that the moon is made of green cheese. (Green meaning new, not the color green. But never mind that.) So the excellent sci-fi writer Scalzi asked: What if the moon actually turned to cheese? And then wrote this funny, thoughtful novel about the fallout, day by day, all over the world — and beyond.
There are the NASA astronauts who are supposed to be launched soon in a “return to the moon” mission, and the billionaire rival to Jeff and Elon who hopes to beat them there. There are the scientists trying to figure out what happened and the old coots at a lunch counter trying to figure out what comes next. There’s even the set of “Saturday Night Live.” And, inevitably, there are the conspiracy theorists.
Things come to a head when a huge chunk of the cheese-moon breaks off (no, there are no giant crackers to go with it) and heads for Earth, threatening the planet’s doom. And then — no, to find out, you’re going to have to listen. As you should.
Wheaton, best known as Wesley Crusher on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (and for playing himself on “The Big Bang Theory”), charges through this book with terrific enthusiasm and diction, as well as evident amusement at some of Scalzi’s more outrageous conceits. He doesn’t go in much for different voices for characters, but there are excellent Midwestern accents in segments set in a pair of rival Wisconsin cheese shops. Alan Rosenberg, of Warwick, is a retired executive editor of The Providence Journal and has been reviewing audiobooks for more than two decades. Reach him at AlanRosenbergRI@gmail.com.
“I am Music — most ancient of the arts. I am more than ancient; I am eternal.”
May Music
MY MEMOIRS by SUSAN DEAN
This is the beginning of an essay that was included in the program of one of my choral concerts years ago. Its author wasn’t listed, and so it seemed almost as if it was simply “Music” expressing itself. After all, it begins with “I am Music” and continues to refer to itself in the first person. I rather like the idea that “Music” is its own entity from ancient times and that it is speaking to us as it has since the beginnings of our existence. I did some research, however, and found that it was originally written by Allan C. Inman in May 1950.
May is concert month for me. I sing with both the West Bay Chorale in Warwick and the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra in Providence. Between both groups, we perform three spring concerts, all in May. My days and evenings in May are filled with music and singing as we rehearse and prepare. And I love every minute of it — from the first rehearsal right through to the end as concert time approaches, when we start working with the soloists and the instrumentalists. I love the challenge of learning the music — which takes practice time at home, too, listening to recordings and playing my alto lines on the piano between weekly rehearsals. And the progress we make week to week leading up to our concerts is gratifying and exciting.
There’s something that stirs from deep within our souls when we combine our voices, along with strings, winds, and other instruments to produce beautiful music together. The harmonies we create seem ancient and eternal — as if they’re as old as time itself.
It’s a privilege to share works of the great composers with our audiences. We bring to life musical notes that were in someone’s mind before being etched onto paper long ago somewhere in history. And it’s the same with all of our music — from all the different genres and time periods that we present. Whether it’s Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” or “Scarborough Fair” — the music fills our souls and flows into the souls of our audiences.
The essay continues, “I am a necessary luxury to all…”
My cousin, Janet, is an artist and designer and is very well-versed in the visual arts but had never done any singing beyond what we all experienced in elementary school. A few years ago, she asked about my singing and wondered if she could join one of my choruses. Janet sings with me in our alto section now and recently told me that it’s something she’d never want to give up — that it’s a beautiful and fulfilling expression of a
part of her that she never quite knew existed. Music is “a necessary luxury” indeed.
But the essay also touches on another type of music beyond the collection of notes and chords we’re used to hearing. There is music in the universe.
It says, “Even before life commenced upon the earth, I was here — in the winds and the waves.”
The birds wake us up early on spring and summer mornings. Listening to their songs is like listening to perfectly composed music, with rhythm, tempo, and pitch changes. There are crescendos and decrescendos as the various birds fly in and out through the trees — as if their singing is being conducted by a celestial director.
There is music in the wind, the flowers, and the trees. We can sometimes hear the wind whistling, but watching the branches, leaves, and plants nod and sway to their internal rhythms appeals to us visually, too. It’s as if they are dancing to an invisible orchestra — to music only the trees and flowers can hear.
There is music in the sounds of the ocean waves crashing. Never-ending — sometimes wild, fierce, and loud — sometimes quiet, pensive, and calm.
The sounds of the peep toads and nighttime insects lull us to sleep in spring and in summer — creating their own style of music. We’re reminded that nature is all around us, carrying on as it has done since the beginning of time, as sure as the moon and the stars appear and the sun goes on its journey — no matter what is happening in the world.
And there is also music in the sounds of our lives. In the voices of our children and grandchildren. In the sounds of someone making dinner — with pots and pans clanging and silverware clattering. In the sounds of a car pulling into the driveway as we sigh with gratitude for the safe arrival of a loved one returning home. There’s even music in the plunk of tennis balls and the laughter of my friends as we get together to spend weekly tennis time on the courts.
The essay continues, “I became the most delicate, most subtle, and most powerful medium for the expression…of emotions. I speak to all…in a language that all understand. Even the deaf hear me, if they but listen to the voices of their own souls.”
Music connects us. It touches our hearts and through music we can share what our hearts want to say.
The essay ends with “I am the food of love. I have taught gentleness and peace…I comfort the lonely, and I harmonize the discord of crowds.”
Music is everywhere and speaks to us in so many ways — all we have to do is listen.
Social Security introduces secure digital access
by CHERYL TUDINO Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is taking steps to provide a significant enhancement for my Social Security account holders, by introducing secure digital access to their Social Security number (SSN). This innovative feature is designed to provide the American public with a modernized, secure, and accessible alternative to the traditional physical SSN card.
SSA is committed to improving service delivery while safeguarding Personal Identifiable Information (PII).
The digital SSN feature will allow account holders to conveniently display their SSN, when needed, for reasons other than handling Social Security matters. This enhancement will provide individuals who have forgotten their SSN or misplaced their SSN cards a simple solution allowing them to securely view their SSN online through the my Social Security portal.
This will reduce their need for an in-person visit and/or having to wait to receive their SSN card through the mail. They will be able to access it via my Social Security on their mobile devices. This digital feature not only streamlines the process for those who need their SSN but also reinforces our dedication to protecting sensitive information. By providing a secure digital option, SSA aims to reduce the risk of lost or stolen cards and enhance the overall user experience.
SSA encourages all account holders to take advantage of this new feature, which will be available starting early this summer. For more information on how to create a my Social Security account, please visit https:// www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.
Together, we are working to create a more accessible and secure future for all Social Security beneficiaries.
the whole family be at the table for dinner.
Domenic names the schools he attended as if he’s reading them from a list, only he’s not reading. When he reached Central High School he enrolled in a split program with automotive mechanics. That training opened doors he would never have imagined.
World War II was in full swing and before graduating Domenic enlisted in what was then the Army Air Corps, to later become the US Air Force.
“I wanted airplanes,” he said. Having taken an aptitude test and completed basic training in Miami Beach that transformed from a tourist town to a training post during the war. From there Domenic was sent to St. Louis for intense training in aircraft mechanics that included as part of the finals flying a small plane comparable to a Piper Cub solo. Thirty-two started off in the class that ended off being 29 by the time training was completed.
“It was go-go all the time,” he said describing how the day started at 6
a.m. with a muster and by 8 a.m. had them in classes until 4 p.m. Domenic estimates the equivalent of two years of college engineering courses was packed into five months.
With that portion of training completed, Domenic was assigned to the 312 squadron in Rome, NY where he was a basic mechanic working on “piston pounded” B24 engines.
Always the host
Domenic pauses to get a plate of sugar-coated cookies, a great compliment to the coffee. The story resumed.
From Rome, NY, the squadron was shipped to El Aouina Air Base in Tunis. The Germans were on the retreat in North Africa and Domenic spent a lot of his time fixing jeeps and keeping the motor pool running until the squadron was deployed to Gioa del Colle base in Apulia, Italy. There the crew worked feverously to keep bombers in the air as the allies closed in on Germany.
When the war came to an end, the squadron stayed to close operations and fly out the planes. Infantry were
the first to return home.
Domenic was surprised on returning home was to discover his mother had saved the money he had been sending home to help the family had been placed in a saving account. He leaves his coffee for a second time and shuffles out of the room, returning with a satchel filled with albums, books and papers. There’s a paper bound book that was compiled by members of the squadron recounting events during the war along with drawings and photographs. From one of the albums flops an 8 by 10 black and white photograph of a young man standing in the vacant square in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral at the Vatican.
Domenic explains he visited Rome on leave after the squadron was reassigned to a base in Naples. He digs deeper into the satchel, coming up with the savings passbook handed him on his return to Providence.
His mother’s advice
“I’m a keeper,” says Domenic. “I keep everything.” He remembers, too, down to his mother’s advice “to always have breakfast” as
a kid to what she told Dorothy DelSesto when she learned they were going to marry. Her instruction: “Never feed him cheese.” Dorothy heeded the advice.
It was an off-hand inquiry to a friend that led to connecting with his first-grade classmate. In a casual conversation Domenic asked whatever became of Dorothy. The friend suggested he find out for himself and handed him a scrap of paper with her phone number. Sometime later Domenic found the paper in his pocket and made the call. Their first date was a movie and some five months later they were married.
Domenic was working for the Navy in Quonset, but the newlyweds wanted to be close to family and friends in Providence. When Domenic learned an acquaintance was buying a two-family house in the Union Avenue neighborhood, he asked if there might be an apartment for rent. The answer was “yes,” but when Domenic went to check it out, it was an unfinished attic.
between it all looked to fix a clock from Italy that had belonged to his grandfather.
He went to D’Agastino Clocks and Watch Repair in Providence where he struck up a friendship with the owner who became his mentor in understanding clocks and repairing them.
Domenic saw an opportunity. He offered to convert the attic into an apartment at his cost on condition that the rent was frozen at $30 a month for as long as they were there. It was a deal.
Landlord reneges on deal
But the landlord reneged several years later, telling Domenic he wanted them out. Domenic was furious and thought of fighting the edict in court. Instead, he looked around, finding a double-decker they could call their own. It needed renovations and Domenic went to work. The replacement of a toilet with a wall tank and pull chain, which was on top of Dorothy’s list to go, was among the first renovations. He cleaned up the yard and built an outdoor fireplace from cobble stones salvaged when Washington Street was repaved.
The first of their two children, Edward was born in 1957 , followed by Elaine who came seven years later. He has two grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
When the Navy pulled out of Quonset in the 70s Domenic was out of a job. He went to work as a production controller for Madison Industries. He looked to go farther. He took night courses in production planning at URI and somehow
But times were changing and so was the neighborhood. Following an episode where shots were fired not far from his home, Domenic started looking for a house in Cranston. He found the place close to Garden City but in need of cleaning and repair. Domenic put his woodworking skills to work again reconfiguring the kitchen and converting a portion of the basement into a clock workshop.
The clock shop
On a follow-up visit, he showed off his basement cubby filled with boxes and drawers of gears, springs and the tiniest tools.
“People would say they overwound their clock,” Domenic says of the frequently heard complaint when he was averaging three to four repairs a week.
“But you can’t overwind a clock.” He explained that most clock failures result from worn pinions and bushings that hold gears in position. The pinions holding the spring in place, which are subject to the most torque, can wobble causing the gears to jam and the clock to stop.
He lists the parts, pulling gears of different sizes from drawers. One can imagine he was similarly focused on repairing a car engine or that of a World War II bomber.
Of all the clocks he’s worked on, Domenic says the French ones are especially finely built. He said
components are precision crafted and are driven by springs – in the case of windup clocks – of minimal torque placing less stress on gears.
It was this mechanical thinking that surely played a role in him landing a job with the state and eventually a pension that continues to serve him well.
When he learned of a plant mechanic position overseeing the operation of the power plant serving the state institutions at what is now the Pastore Government Center, Domenic was interested in the money and the challenge. The job entailed ensuring the operation of five boilers standing three stories high. There were scores of applications for the position and Domenic figured he didn’t have a shot at the job because he didn’t know anybody. He was surprised when he was given a second interview and delighted when he landed the job that he held for 13 years.
Today Domenic says he takes one day at a time. He often has visitors, and he is a big admirer of retired Providence Fire Chief George Farrell founder of the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub. Domenic went on one of the 32 flights the hub has conducted, transporting veterans to Washington, DC for a day of visiting war memorials. Domenic attends Honor Flight fundraisers, often speaking about the experience and what it meant to him.
For Domenic, moderation and patience are tenants to live by. In his 102 years he has discovered the joy of living: “I like to see things come to life…I don’t care if it’s a million dollar clock or a 50 cent clock.”
Domenic Giarrusso uses the mechanism out of a Seth Thomas clock to point out features of the mechanism.
(Beacon Media photos by John Howell)
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Fresh Perspective Landscaping, LLC
By JENNIFER COATES
Spring weather in New England can be unpredictable and erratic one minute and predictably messy and wet the next! All the springtime rain brings the long dormant vegetation on our properties back to life, especially our grassy lawns.
Patchy and weed-filled lawns that have emerged from the muddy ground, pesky piles of leaves and random sticks that are still tangled in bushes, hedges that are sprouting new growth, garden beds that should be mulched as seedlings are planted ~ all of this, and so much more, awaits you as spring unfolds in all its glory.
With so many demands on your time this spring, you do not have to tackle all this yardwork on your own. Now
is the time to call in the help of Randy Bodick and his crew at Fresh Perspective Landscaping. This dynamic team is hard-working, thorough, and trustworthy. Randy, who incorporated this landscaping business in 2019, has been cutting lawns and tending to customers’ properties since he was a young teen. He has worked diligently and steadily to build a base of loyal customers and to earn a reputation as someone who will go above and beyond what is asked of him.
One of the things Randy is most proud of is his commitment to communicating with his customers. When you call him, if he is out on the job, you can be 100% certain that he will return your call within 24 hours. In this compet-
itive market, this respect for your time counts for a lot.
Fresh Perspective Landscaping offers a broad range of services, including:
• SPRING CLEAN-UPS
• Thatching and aerating your lawn
• Cutting and edging your lawn
• Cleaning and mulching your flower beds
• Trimming your hedges
• “Whacking” your weeds
• Leaf blowing and • Debris/brush removal
If you need a one-time clean-up or want to get on Randy’s weekly or bi-weekly schedule, now is the time to reach out.
There are many advantages to setting up a weekly management schedule with Fresh Perspective Landscape ~ they are reliable, dependable, detail-oriented, professional and respectful. No re-
minders are ever needed ~ if you ask, it will be done. This is a no-hassle approach to lawn maintenance! It leaves you the time to do the things you love in the growing seasons of your lives.
Business picks up quickly once the season is in full swing and you will not want to miss the opportunity to work with Fresh Perspective. Randy will come to your home or business to give you
a free estimate, so call and book your appointment today.
Many will be happy to know that Fresh Perspective also does junk removal. As Randy says “Just make the call, we do it all!” And he really means it.
Fresh Perspective Landscaping and owner Randy Bodick can be reached at 401558-8688.
Real Estate Transactions
120 Pontiac Ave Bovis, Thomas and Lynch, Lauren
JordanAve Rojas, Nancy B Pimentel, Laura N 4/28
204 Maplewood Ave Lot 2380 Hernandez, Adelso Estevez, Darys J and Nunez, Yasmin M 5/2
204 Maplewood Ave Lot 2381 Hernandez, Adelso Estevez, Darys J and Nunez, Yasmin M 5/2 $630,000
About 90 lifeguards have already been hired to work at Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) beaches ahead of the summer 2025 season. But more are still needed.
“DEM is actively recruiting for seasonal positions and continues to accept applications throughout the season,” Chief Public Affairs Officer Kim Keough said in an email confirming the number of guards hired so far. “We are still hiring for all seasonal roles, especially our lifeguard positions and encourage anyone interested to apply!”
100 lifeguards for the summer. DEM’s seasonal employment webpage still has a posting for seasonal state lifeguards — pay is listed as $18.75 to $19.25 an hour — and seasonal supervising lifeguards — paying $19.50 to $20.00 an hour.
Keough said DEM’s Division of Parks and Recreation aims to hire over
To help with recruiting, DEM offers up to $1,000 in incentive bonuses — a $500 sign-on bonus for those hired
by June 27 and an additional $500 for those who remain on the job through Sept. 1
All lifeguard candidates must receive state certification and hold valid cards in lifeguard training, first aid, and CPR, including infant, child, and adult.
Lifeguards will be on duty and bathrooms and concessions will be open at Scarborough North and
Salty Brine state beaches in Narragansett on Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, and remain open weekends only until daily operations begin Memorial Day. All other state beaches, except Roger Wheeler, will officially open daily Saturday, May 24 and remain open until Labor Day.
Beachgoers can plan ahead and buy their 2025 state beach season parking passes
to all eight Rhode Island State beach parking lots. Online pass sales can take up to 24 hours to validate. New this year, returning customers with unchanged registration and contact information can bypass the verification process. They allow parking at all eight state beaches but do not guarantee entry. Parking is first-come, first-served.
HOUSES Fast! Offer in
Hrs. CASH... Any situation. Any condition. Call today, 595-8703.
WEST WARWICK/ CLYDE: Huge 2bdrs, 3rd floor, heat & hot water included. Appliances. Parking. No pets. $245/ weekly. Security deposit: $1000. 401-301-4465.
WEST WARWICK: NICE 1BDR. First floor. Appliances. All utilities included. $270/week. 2-weeks security. No pets/ Non-smoker. 401-8285080.
FOR SALE: 2014 FORD FOCUS, gray, 88,000 miles, good condition. $5,000. Call: 501-644-2246.
SUBARU FORESTER: 127,153/ mi. Inspected. Very good condition. $2,600. Call: 401556-4004.
is Thursday, May 22 @ 12 NOON The
Media Office will be CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY, MAY 26
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22) Disruptive family disputes need to be settled so that everyone can move on. Avoid assuming this burden alone, though. Ask — no, demand help with this problem.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19)
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Although you might prefer to move forward at a steady pace, it might be a good idea to stop and reassess your plans. You could find a good reason to make a change at this time.
Impatience with those who don’t keep up with you can cause resistance, which, in turn, can lead to more delays. It’s best to be helpful and supportive if you want good results.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A surprise announcement from a colleague could put you on the defense. Gather your facts and respond. You’ll soon find the situation shifting in your favor.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Patience is called for as you await word on an important workplace situation. A personal circumstance, however, could benefit by your taking immediate action.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Don’t lose confidence in yourself. Those doubters are likely to back off if you demand that they show solid proof as to why they think your ideas won’t work.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Just when you thought you had everything planned to the smallest detail, you get some news that could unsettle things. But a timely explanation helps put it all back on track.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) The time spent away from a project pays off with a new awareness of options that you hadn’t considered before. Weigh them carefully before deciding which to choose.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Consider confronting a personal conflict while there’s still time to work things out. A delay can cause more problems. A longtime colleague might offer to mediate.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Home and work continue to compete for your attention, but you handle it well by giving each its proper due. Meanwhile, someone you trust offers valuable advice. Listen to it.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Some emerging matters could impede the Lion’s progress in completing an important project. Best advice: Deal with them now before they can create costly delays.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A temporary setback might cause some unsettling moments for the usually sure-footed Goat. But keep going! The path ahead gets easier as you move forward.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) There’s welcome news from the workplace. There could also be good news involving a relationship that has long held a special meaning for you.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You still might need to cut some lingering ties to a situation that no longer has the appeal it once held. In the meantime, you can start to explore other opportunities.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your aspect continues to favor an expanding vista. This could be a good time to make a career move, and taking an out-of-town job could be a good way to do it.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Unsettling news creates a difficult but not impossible situation. Continue to follow your planned routine, but keep your mind open to a possible change down the line.
LIBRA (September 23 to October
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Lick your wounded pride if you like, but it’s a better idea to find out why your suggestions were rejected. What you learn could help you deal with an upcoming situation.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Feeling a bit listless? No wonder! You might be pushing too hard to finish everything on your to-do list. Cutting it down could help get your energy levels up.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Taking time out of your busy schedule might be the best way to handle a sensitive private matter. It will help reassure everyone involved about your priorities.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Insist on full disclosure by all parties before agreeing to be part of a “great deal.” What you learn should help you decide whether or not to go with it.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your decision to protect the secret that was entrusted to you might irk some people. But it also wins you the admiration of those who value trust and loyalty.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Creative activities take on a practical approach as you realize you might be able to market your work. Ask for advice from someone experienced in this area.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) If you’re suddenly a bit unsure about a decision, ask trusted colleagues and/or friends or family members for suggestions that could help resolve your doubts.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20)
A workplace situation could get stormy. But stay on course until there’s a solution that meets with everyone’s approval, and things can finally calm down.
BORN THIS WEEK: You keep an open mind on most matters, making you the confidante of choice for people who need your honest counsel.
BORN THIS WEEK: Your sense of what’s right can inspire others if you remember not to push too hard to make your case. Moderation works best for you.
Bravo show ‘Real Housewives’ drops anchor in the Ocean State
By CHRISTOPHER SHEA Rhode Island Current
Get ready for some drama in the Ocean State — Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise is coming to Rhode Island.
The network announced the latest iteration of the long-running reality show May 7, teasing on X that the 13th entry in the reality TV franchise will offer a look into the world of a tight-knit circle of Rhode Islanders who “have deep community roots and families that go back generations.”
“With aspirational lives, thriving businesses, and tangled family dynamics, these decadelong friendships prove that in a state this small, there’s no escaping your past…or each other,” the announcement read.
Rumors of possible cast members circulated online over the winter, and WJAR reported in December that the show was likely filming in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Film & Television Office
Executive Director Steven Feinberg called the speculation “an avalanche of enthusiasm” when confirming production on Facebook Wednesday.
“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island is ready to roll and take the world by storm!” Feinberg said in a statement. “Action!”
Bravo has not said who has been cast on the show, where production will take place, or when the season will air.
What is clear is that production of Real Housewives will not be eligible for state reimbursement.
That’s because the 30% production tax credit only applies to “motion pictures,” which Rhode Island General Law defines to include documentaries, videos, television series, commercials made for theatrical or television viewing, television pilots, or productions
intended for educational distribution.
Recent productions filmed in Rhode Island include “Ella McCay,” an upcoming film directed by James L. Brooks, and Disney’s “Hocus Pocus 2.” HBO’s “The Gilded Age” has filmed scenes for its two seasons in Newport.
Director M. Night Shyamalan is also preparing production in the Ocean State for “a supernatural romantic thriller” starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Phoebe Dynevor.
Gov. Dan McKee said he welcomed the franchise’s “millions of viewers” and hopes that the show will bring national attention to Rhode Island.
“Our state is home to vibrant communities, amazing food, rich history, and stunning coastal beauty — perfect for the spotlight,” McKee said in a statement.
“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” is produced by Evolution Media, according to Bravo’s announcement. Lucilla D’Agostino, Joseph Ferraro, Jen McClure-Metz and Andy Cohen will serve as executive producers.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Courtesy of Bravo TV
